Shelving unit

ABSTRACT

A shelving structure is disclosed, wherein space-enclosing side panels can be secured between assembled legs and shelves. The legs are provided with inset inner perimeter sections which form flanges spaced apart from the shelf margins. Between the flanges and the shelf margins, the panels are secured. The shelves are attached to the legs by novel brackets which are preliminary attached to the shelves by dogleg-shaped tangs.

United States Patent [1 1 Klecki- [451 May 6,1975

[ SHELVING UNIT [75] Inventor: John J. Klecki, Antioch, 111.

[73] Assignee: Quaker Industries, Inc., Antioch, 111.

[22] Filed: Nov. 5, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 412,688

[52] US. Cl. 108/27; 108/60; 108/114;

108/156; 211/148; 312/195; 312/257 A [51] Int. Cl A47b 17/02 [58] Fieldof Search 108/27, 60, 64, 107, 144,

108/155, 156, 110, 1l4',312/108, 111, 257 R, 257 A, 257 SM, 195, 257 SK;211/177, 148; 52/280-282, 753 D [56] References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 1,718,943 7/1929 312/195 2,942,924 6/1960 Strangert 108/60 UX2,990,229 6/1961 Engelbrecht 312/257 SK 3,623,435 11/1971 Ferdinand eta1 312/257 SK X 3,677,416 7/1972 Block et a1 108/161 X 3,691,966 9/1972Ferdinand et al 108/144 Primary Examiner-Willlam H. Schultz AssistantExaminerWilliam E. Lynddane Attorney, Agent, or FirmOlson, Trexler,Wolters, Bushnell & Fosse, Ltd

[57] ABSTRACT A shelving structure is disclosed, wherein spaceenclosingside panels can be secured between assembled legs and shelves. The legsare provided with inset inner perimeter sections which form flangesspaced apart from the shelf margins. Between the flanges and the shelfmargins, the panels are secured. The shelves are attached to the legs bynovel brackets which are preliminary attached to the shelves bydogleg-shaped tangs.

7 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures PATENTEDMAY' ems 3,881,428

saw 1 or 2 1 SHELVING UNIT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This inventionrelates generally to shelving structures, and more particularly toshelving structures which can be assembled by end users intoindividually required shapes and arrangements.

Shelving structures and assemblies which can be shipped or transportedin a relatively disassembled condition are meeting with great commercialsuccess in the modern marketplace. On such commercially successfulstructure is that described and claimed in US. Pat. No. 3,677,416 toBlock et al. This shelving can be assembled by users into a structurehaving an extent, shape and arrangement required by the users individualrequirements. Any improvement over prior devices which affords ease andrapidity of assembly is a desirable and important contribution to theart.

It is the general object of this invention to provide improved shelvingat low cost, which can be quickly and easily assembled into a rigid,sturdy structure by even inexperienced personnel.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide a shelvingstructure wherein the parts can be drawn tightly together, eliminatingrelative play or part movement.

Yet another object is to provide a shelving structure wherein the partscan be preliminarily assembled without tools of any kind. A relatedobject is to provide such a shelving structure wherein the finalassembly can be completed without any special tools.

A further object is to provide a shelving structure wherein the variousparts positively lock together.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a shelvingstructure wherein the locking mechanism is in a location easilyaccessible yet normally hidden from view, thereby enhancing theattractiveness of the structure without detracting from its ease ofassembly.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent uponreading the following detailed description and upon reference to thedrawings. Throughout the description, like reference numerals refer tolike parts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is an overall perspective viewshowing a shelving structure fabricated and erected in accordance withthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially in the plane of line 22in FIG. 1 and showing in further detail a typical shelf and several legsand connecting brackets associated with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded fragmentary perspective view showing a typicalshelf and leg associated with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of a typical shelf member showing acorner thereof;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially in the plane of line 55in FIG. 4 and showing in further detail the construction of one portionof the shelf members;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially in the plane of line 6-6in FIG. 4 and showing in further detail the construction of anotherportion of the shelf member;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially in the planeofline 77 in FIG. 1 and showing in further detail the interrelationshipof a typical leg and adjacent shelf members;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary elevational view of the leg member shown in FIG.7;

FIG. 9 is a relatively plan view of the novel bracket member associatedwith the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a relatively elevational view of the bracket member shown inFIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary perspective view of the post and shelf membersshown in FIG. 7, but including side panel members interconnectedtherewith;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary perspective view showing in yet further detailthe manner in which the shelf, the post, and the bracket areinterconnected in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view taken in the plane of line l3l3in FIG. 1 showing the interattachment of several side panel membersDETAILED DESCRIPTION While the invention will be described in connectionwith a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that it is notintended to limit the invention to that embodiment. On the contrary, itis intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents asmay be included within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Turning first to FIG. 1, there is shown a shelving structure 20manufactured and erected in accordance with the present invention. Ingeneral, this structure 20 includes shelves 21-24, inclusive. which arehere supported on legs 26-31, inclusive. Side panels 3337 are mounted tothe structure, and they extend between vertically adjacent shelvesand/or a floor to at least partially enclose a volume of space betweenthe panels and the shelves.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3 and elsewhere a typical portion of thisshelving structure comprises an elongated leg member 26, a shelf member21, and means for mounting the shelf 21 to the leg 26 at a predeterminedlocation and in a rigid, sturdy and wobble-free manner. Thisinterconnecting means includes a slotted bracket member 40 and a stud 41having an enlarged head 42 and a reduced stem 43. In the illustratedembodiment, it will be seen that the stud takes the form of a metalscrew, the enlarged head 42 being slotted for engagement by ascrewdriver, and the stern being a threaded screw shank. This stud canbe screwed into and out of the leg by appropriate manipulation of thescrewdriver. Alternatively, a nut and bolt arrangement can be providedwherein a nut (not shown) takes the place of the screw; the nut can bemoved toward or away from the leg 26 by a wrench. Still further, aheaded rivet stud of appropriate shape could be used as the stud member41.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the elongated leg member26 is formed to accept and encourage the attachment of the shelf 21 andthe bracket 40 in a rigid and wobble-free manner. To this end, the legis formed with an outer perimeter section 46. An inner perimeter section47 is inset with respect to the outer perimeter section 46, asillustrated in FIG. 2. The inset relation of the inner perimeter section47 relative to the outer perimeter section 46 forms, in the illustratedleg 26, two leg flange portions 48 and 49. As illustrated in FIG. 7 forexample, appropriate orientation of the inset inner perimeter section 47relative to the 3 outer perimeter section 46 results in alternatelocations of the flanges 48 and 49 on the leg 28.

In the illustrated embodiment, the leg 26 is formed of a rolled steel,and can be coated or otherwise covered in any desired manner, such aswith a simulated wood grain finish. The leg 26 is formed of a singlesheet of fabricating material such as sheet steel, and the edges 51 andS2 of the fabricating material are interlocked in a pressed knuckle grip53 which extends substantially the entire length of the leg 26.Appropriately formed holes 54 accommodate the studs 41; these holes canbe provided with a thread-accommodating configuration, if necessary. 9

In further accordance with the invention, the shelf 21 is adapted toengage the leg in a manner permitting the insertion of side panelsbetween the leg flanges 48 and 49 and the shelf 21 itself. To this end,the shelf is provided with depending skirts 56 and 57 extending alongthe shelf margins 58 and 59. In addition, the shelf is provided with acutaway corner portion 60 which is adapted to mate with a portion butnot all of the inner leg perimeter section 47, as illustrated in FIG. 2and elsewhere. When the shelf cutaway corner 60 is urged into abuttingrelation with the inner perimeter section 47 of the leg 26, the shelfmargins 58 and 59 are oriented adjacent to but spaced apart from the legflanges 48 and 49 by respective predetermined distances X and Y. Thesepredetermined distances X and Y, between the shelf and the leg flanges,are selected to substantially equal the thicknesses of the verticalpanel members 33 and 35 to permit their insertion between the legflanges and the shelf margins.

It will be understood that an interference fit for the panels can beprovided by selecting appropriate dimensions for the cutaway shelfcorner 60, the outer leg perimeter section 46 and the inner legperimeter section 47. In such cases, the predetermined distances X and Ycan be selected to be slightly less than the thicknesses of the panels33 and 35 intended to be retained upon the shelving structure. Soselecting the distances X and Y allows the panels 33 and 35 to be fittedinto the shelving structure with a slight interference fit to insuretheir rigid retention upon the shelving structure. The degree ofinterference will, it will be understood, at least partly determine thedegree of rigidity with which the associated panels 33 and are retainedupon the shelving structure 20. In the illustrated embodiment, all thelegs 26-31 are provided with at least two leg flanges, therebypermitting the insertion of at least two space-enclosing panel membersbetween the leg members and the adjacent shelf members mounted thereto.When a plurality of shelves 21-24 are mounted to the legs 26-31 at acorresponding plurality of locations spaced vertically apart along thelegs, and when panels 33-37 are installed as illustrated and describedbetween adjacent shelves or between a shelf and a floor, a volume ofstorage space is enclosed on at least some sides. This partiallyenclosed storage space is especially useful for storing irregularlyshaped articles or deformable articles which cannot be stacked orshelved securely.

in carrying out the invention, the bracket is adapted for installationupon both the shelf 21 and the leg 26 in a preliminary position withoutthe use of any tools. By using a common tool such as a screwdriver, thebracket 40, leg 26, and shelf 27 can be tightened together from thepreliminary assembly configuration into a final interrelationship. Tothis end, the bracket 40 is provided with four tangs 66-69, inclusive.These tangs 66-69 are inserted into holes -73, inclusive, formed independing shelf skirts and 76. At least two of the tangs 68 and 69 takethe form of offset doglegs, and initially engage and retain the bracket40 upon the adjacent skirt 75 and 76. The two remaining tangs 66 and 67take the form of finger inserts and also engage the skirts 75 and 76.

Assembly of the shelving is easy and quick. First, the bracket 40 ispreliminarily installed upon the shelf 21. Then, with the shelf 21positioned against the leg 26 at a position slightly above the stud 41as illustrated in H6. 12, the shelf 21 and bracket 40 are urgeddownwardly along the leg in the direction indicated by an arrow Z toengage the stud member 41. This stud 41 has been preliminarilypositioned so that the stud extends only partially into the leg 26, astem portion 43 and the head portion 42 projecting from the leg 28. Whenthe shelf 21 and bracket 40 are moved further downward in the directionindicated by the arrow A, the stud stem 43 passes through a slot 78formed in a flange 79 on the generally L-shaped bracket 40. The firstslot 78 has an enlarged portion 80 to accommodate the passage of thestud enlarged head portion 42. Thereafter, the bracket 40 accommodatesfurther downward movement over the stud stem 43 by means of a secondslot 81. Since the stud head 42 is larger than the width of the slot 81,the head 42 at least partly covers the slot 81 during this movement.

At a terminal end 83 of the second slot 81, a recessed area 84 isformed. As the bracket 40 reaches the termination of its downward motionover the stud 41 and the stud stem 43 engages the terminal portion ofthe slot 83, the stud head 42 is superimposed over this recessed area84. With the various parts positioned in this manner, a screwdriver orother suitable tool can be utilized to urge the stud 41 further into theleg, thereby drawing the stud head 42 firmly into the bracket recess 84.Simultaneously, the bracket tangs 66-69 more firmly engage theperipheries of the shelf skirt tang holes 70-73, inclusive. As the stud41 is tightened progressively further into the leg 26, the bracket 40and the engaged shelf 21 are drawn progressively toward the leg 26, andinto progressively tighter engagement therewith.

After the shelf 21 has been at least preliminarily attached to the leg26, the adjacent side panels 33 and 35 can be inserted, as by slidingthe panels along the axis of the leg 26 between the leg flanges 48 and49 and the adjacent shelf skirts 58 and 59 as indicated by the arrow Bin FIG. 1.

If desired, the two vertically adjacent side panels 33 and 34 can beinterattached as illustrated in FlG. 13. An interconnector 93 having agenerally H-shaped cross-sectional configuration can be included andpositioned between the legs 26 and 27. The adjacent side panels 33 and34 are then slipped into panelaccommodating notches 94 and 95 formed inthe interconnector 93. This arrangement provides a smooth yet stronginterconnection of the panels 33 and 34, and can contribute to theoverall strength of the shelving structure. lf desired, the outersurface and/or the inner surface of the interconnector 93 can be coatedor otherwise prepared with a simulated wood grain or other attractivefinish similar to that provided on the legs 26-31. This surface providesa neat and finished appearance to the overall shelving structure.

The invention is claimed as, follows:

1. A shelving structure comprising at least one elongated leg memberhaving an outer perimeter section and an inner perimeter section insetwith respect to the outer perimeter section to form at least one legflange, a margined shelf member having skirt portions extending alongthe shelf margin and a cutaway corner portion adapted to mate with onlya portion of said leg inner perimeter section for orienting the shelfmargin adjacent to, but spaced apart from, the leg flange by apredetermined distance, said predetermined distance between the legflange and the shelf skirt substantially equalling the thickness of apanel member thereby permitting the insertion of the panel memberbetween the leg flange and the shelf margin and retention of the panelmember between the leg flange and the shelf margin, and shelf-legconnecting means for mounting the shelf to the leg at a predeterminedlocation.

2. A shelving structure according to claim 1 wherein said shelf-legconnecting means includes a stud member having a head and a stem andaffixed to said leg member, and a slotted bracket member adapted toengage said shelf skirts and further adapted to slide over the stud stemwith the stud head at least partly covering the bracket slot to locateat least one shelf skirt at a position spaced apart from said leg flangeby said predetermined distance.

3. A shelving structure according to claim 2 wherein said slottedbracket is provided with tangs for engaging said shelf skirts, at leasttwo tangs taking the form of outwardly extending offset doglegs forengaging and initially retaining the bracket member between adjacentskirt portions of said shelf, and at least two tangs taking the forms offinger inserts for engaging the skirt portions and extending generallyperpendicularly to the ends of said outwardly extending offset doglegs,said tangs cooperating to draw the bracket member and engaged skirtportions toward said leg member as said stud head is moved toward saidleg member.

4. a shelving structure according to claim 1 wherein a plurality ofshelves are mounted to said leg at a corresponding plurality oflocations spaced apart along said leg, and further including panelmembers extending between adjacent shelves to at least partially enclosea volume of space between said panel members and said shelf members.

5. A shelving structure according to claim 4 including a leg memberhaving two leg flanges, thereby permitting the insertion and retentionof at least two panel members between said leg member and shelf membersmounted thereto.

6. A shelving structure according to claim 4 wherein said panel membersare secured between said leg member flanges and said shelf member by aninterference fit.

7. A shelving structure according to claim 1 wherein said leg member isa hollow, single continuous sheet member, the edges of said single sheetforming said leg being interlocked in a continuous pressed knuckle gripextending substantially the entire length of the leg.

1. A shelving structure comprising at least one elongated leg memberhaving an outer perimeter section and an inner perimeter section insetwith respect to the outer perimeter section to form at least one legflange, a margined shelf member having skirt portions extending alongthe shelf margin and a cutaway corner portion adapted to mate with onlya portion of said leg inner perimeter section for orienting the shelfmargin adjacent to, but spaced apart from, the leg flange by apredetermined distance, said predetermined distance between the legflange and the shelf skirt substantially equalling the thickness of apanel member thereby permitting the insertion of the panel memberbetween the leg flange and the shelf margin and retention of the panelmember between the leg flange and the shelf margin, and shelf-legconnecting means for mounting the shelf to the leg at a predeterminedlocation.
 2. A shelving structure according to claim 1 wherein saidshelf-leg connecting means includes a stud member having a head and astem and affixed to said leg member, and a slotted bracket memberadapted to engage said shelf skirts and further adapted to slidE overthe stud stem with the stud head at least partly covering the bracketslot to locate at least one shelf skirt at a position spaced apart fromsaid leg flange by said predetermined distance.
 3. A shelving structureaccording to claim 2 wherein said slotted bracket is provided with tangsfor engaging said shelf skirts, at least two tangs taking the form ofoutwardly extending offset doglegs for engaging and initially retainingthe bracket member between adjacent skirt portions of said shelf, and atleast two tangs taking the forms of finger inserts for engaging theskirt portions and extending generally perpendicularly to the ends ofsaid outwardly extending offset doglegs, said tangs cooperating to drawthe bracket member and engaged skirt portions toward said leg member assaid stud head is moved toward said leg member.
 4. a shelving structureaccording to claim 1 wherein a plurality of shelves are mounted to saidleg at a corresponding plurality of locations spaced apart along saidleg, and further including panel members extending between adjacentshelves to at least partially enclose a volume of space between saidpanel members and said shelf members.
 5. A shelving structure accordingto claim 4 including a leg member having two leg flanges, therebypermitting the insertion and retention of at least two panel membersbetween said leg member and shelf members mounted thereto.
 6. A shelvingstructure according to claim 4 wherein said panel members are securedbetween said leg member flanges and said shelf member by an interferencefit.
 7. A shelving structure according to claim 1 wherein said legmember is a hollow, single continuous sheet member, the edges of saidsingle sheet forming said leg being interlocked in a continuous pressedknuckle grip extending substantially the entire length of the leg.